Power-operated valve



Nov. 7, 1950 c. K. STEINS POWER-OPERATED VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1945 INVENTOR: 6'aI'ZeZ0I2/L .S'zems ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 7, 1950 c. K. STEINS 2,529,431

POWER-OPERATED VALVE Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Z YGLQ H? Zia,

25a l E161 J ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER-OPERATED VALVE Application October 13, 1945, Serial No. 622,203

I 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to valves designed for operation by power','i'. e., by compressed air, steam or other fluid pressure medium, and useful, for example, in connection with automatic wheel slip prevention mechanisms for locomotives such as disclosed in my copending patent application Serial No. 591,134 filed by me on April 30, 1945, now matured into Patent 2,440,124.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide a valve of the kind referred to which is simple in construction; which is immune against easy derangement; and which can be relied upon to function properly under all conditions of service.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. l is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a power operated valve conveniently embodying my invention in one form.

Fig. 2 is an axial section of the valve taken as indicated by the angled arrows IIII,in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the angled arrows III-III in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 1 showing an alternative embodiment of my invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are in axial section and a transvers section taken as respectively indicated by the angled arrows in Fig. 4.

With reference first more particularly to Figs. 1, 2'and 3 of these drawings, my improved valve, as there illustrated, is characterized by having a housing H] which provides a cylinder H of relatively large diameter, and an axially aligned smaller cylinder l2 with a somewhat diametrically expanded extension l'3 to fit over a lateral orifice M in a conduit l5'in which the flow of fluid such as steam is to be controlled or regulated. As shown, the cylinders H and I2 are spaced endwise by a longitudinal interval but integrally connected by two webs l6 disposed in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the axis of the valve body II), which latter is secured in place by headed screw bolts l1 whereof the threaded shanks-pass through an apertured flange [B on said body and engage into a mating flange IS on the conduit [5. The large cylinder II is provided with a replaceable lining 20, and is closed" by a removable bolt-secured cover 2| having a central boss projection 22 with a hollow 23, which, by way of a port 24 communicates with the interior of said cylinder. Connecting into the boss His 2. pipe-'25 through which a pressure flu-id actuating medium, such as compressed air, can be admitted to-the cylinder II.- 'Within the housing-I 0 is a differential piston means 26 which, in this instance, is of unitary construction with a head portion 27 of large diameter to operate in the cylinder l i, and a diametrically reduced hollow portion or prolongation 28 to operate in the cylinder [2, the hollow of the latter portion being closed by a weld secured filler disk 29 which serves as a piston face exposed to the action of fluid traversing the conduit i5. Secured over the back of the piston head 2? with its peripheral edge retroverted as at 32- for snug fluid-tight engagement with the lining in the cylinder 5 i, is a buffer covering 3i of relatively stiff shock absorbing material whereof the edge is retroverted and braced by a channel section annulus 32 of sheet metal abutting a circumferential shoulder on said piston head, said annulus also serving as a retainer for an auxiliary sealing element or piston ring 33. Leakage from within the conduit is around the small diameter or differential piston portion 28 is prevented by packing rings 35 and 36 at opposite sides of a spacer 3i surrounding said portion within the cylinder i2 and held in compression by a gland 33 whereof the clamp bolt heads 39 are readily accessible in the interval between the two cylinders. 1

Forming part of the valve, but located in the conduit i5, is a closure element iii of the butterfly type with diametrical trunnions M which are supported for pivoting action in bushings 42 set into aligned apertures in opposite side walls of said conduit and accessible upon removal of the screw plugs indicated at 33'. The closure element All is coupled for operation by the piston 26 through a link Ml whereof one end fits between and is pivotally connected by a bolt 5% to a pair of ears 45 on said element, and whereof the other end similarly fits between and is pivotally connected by a bolt ll to a pair of ears 38 on the filler disk 29 at the small end portion 28 of said piston. The projection shown at 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) on the rear wall of the conduit it acts as a stop to prevent turning of the closure element 40 beyond its fully closed position in a manner later on explained. Other projections 58 on 011120-- site side walls of the conduit limit movement of the closure element in opening.

In addition to the features already described, the cylinder H is provided adjacent its outer end with a lateral relief port 5i into which is screwed a bleed fitting 52 with a diaphragm 53 having a small opening of suitable size to control the rate age of moisture condensation from the cylinder H' forwardly of the piston head 2'! is allowed to take place through a drain pipe 54, while the apertures at 55 in Fig. 2 establish communication between said cylinder and the hollow of the piston extension for the purposes of pressure equalization.

Opemtion of Figures 1 to 3 Normally the closure element 40 is maintained in the open position in which it is shown by pressure of the fluid passing through the conduit I upon the exposed small end portion 28, 29 of the piston 26. When flow through the conduit I5 is to be decreased or interrupted, pressure fluid is admitted, by way of the pipe 25, to the large cylinder II for action upon the piston head 21. As a result, the piston 26 as a whole will be shifted rightward in Fig. 2, and, through the link 44., cause swinging of the closure element 49 counterclockwise in Fig. l to closed position against the stop projection 4'9 within said conduit. When subsequently the supply of actuating pressure fluid to the cylinder is cut off, the piston 26 will be bodily moved leftward by action of the fluid pressure in the conduit l5 upon its small end 29, with attendant turning of the closure element 48 clockwise in Fig. 1 back to its normal open position against the stops 5!]. Rapid recession of the piston 26 during the opening movement of the closure element 40 is prevented by temporar trapping of the actuating pressure fluid in the cylinder and control of its escape through the bleed fitting 52.

In the alternative embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. l-6, the piston means 26a is formed in two parts, one component providing the large diameter head 21a which has a relatively short hollow diametrically-reduced guide axial prolongation 56, and the other component being in the form of a sleeve 28a which is closed at one end as at 5?, and which telescopically engages the prolongation of the first mentioned component with a freely sliding fit. The piston component 28a, is moreover provided with a flange head 58 of a diameter considerably less than that of the head 21a of the first component and having a differential piston face 290. exposed to the action of the fluid passing through the conduit l5a. The closure element 49a in this instance is in the form of a slide with its opposite lateral edges engaged in guide grooves 59 in the side walls of the conduit l5a and in the cylinder 13a for confinement to movement to closed position crosswise of said conduit. The closure element 40a is notched as at 60 at its outer end for engagement by a headed terminal projection 6| at the contiguous end of the piston element 29a. This arrangement allows rotation of the piston head 25a with assurance against disconnection of the slide 49a therefrom. At the region of entry of the piston component 28a into the cylinder Ila, the latter is fitted with a bevel seat annulus 62 against which a beveled annular shoulder on the piston head 58 normally engages as shown in Fig. 5. From the latter illustration it will be further noted that the piston head 21a is provided on its opposite faces with buffer rings 63-434, which, in practice, may be of any suitable yielding or resilient material capable of reacting respectively with the opposite ends of the cylinder Ila, in absorbing the shocks of impact as the piston is moved in opposite directions. The buffer rings 63, 54 are secured to the piston head 21a by rivets 65 whereof the heads are 4 countersunk, and is otherwise held against displacement by virtue of being partially recessed into annular retaining grooves 66 and 61 in the opposite faces of said head.

As shown, the closure slide 40a is reinforced centrally of its front edge by a circular stiffening web 68, and the lateral orifice in the conduit is partially closed oil by weld-secured segmental pieces 69 and 1D, with resultant provision of a central opening 1! which is normally occupied by the aforesaid stiffening Web with a certain amount of clearance thereabout for access of fluid from said conduit to the face of the differential piston head 29a. Notches I2 and 13 in the segments 69 and 10 provide small openings for a like purpose. By this construction, the orificed wall of the conduit 15a is rendered substantially continuous with preclusion of turbulence which would otherwise occur and impede or retard passage of fluid through the conduit.

Operation of Figures 4 to 6 Upon admission of pressure fluid by way of pipe 25a, into the cylinder l la, the piston 21a is forced forward, taking with it the piston 29a, and in turn the slide 40a which is thereby moved to closed position across the conduit 15a. Upon exhausting the cylinder Ila, likewise by way of pipe 25a in this instance, the closure element 4'0a will be shifted to open position by action of the pressure of fluid in the conduit 15a, upon the face of the differential piston 29a which latter will take the larger piston 21a with it in a manner readily understood from the drawings. By suitable means, not shown, exhaust through the pipe 250. may be controlled to prevent too rapid opening of the valve and banging of the differential piston head 29a against theseat annulus 62.

Movement of the larger piston 21a, in opposite directions incident to valve openingand closing is limited and buffeted by the rings 63 and54 as previously pointed out. the end of the prolongation 56 of the piston 21a is normally clear of the bottom of the bore in the extension 28a, of piston head 29a, so that the bevel on the latter will bear firmly against the seat on the annulus 62 as shown.

If desired or found convenient, the cylinder I la may be provided with a bleed fitting similar to the one described in connection with the first described embodiment of my invention to prevent too rapid exhaust of said cylinder during valve opening.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A power operated valve'of the character described comprising a housing with two seriallyarranged rigidly-united cylinders of large and small diameter, the large cylinder being closed and the small cylinder being open at its outer end and registered with a lateral orifice in a conduit; a separate closure element for regulating flow of pressure fluid through the conduit;

a piston head in the large cylinder; a sleeve slidable on a diametrically reduced axial extension of the piston head, said sleeve extending into'and having a piston head in the small cylinder; means within the small cylinder operatively connecting the closure element to the head end of the sleeve; and means whereby pressure fluid can be admitted to the outer end of the larger cylinder for action upon the piston head therein to bring about the movement of the closure element to closed position.

2. The invention according to claim l, where- It is to be noted that' in the closure element has the form of a slide Number with guidance transversely of the conduit. 560,132 CARLETON K. STEINS. 750,649 870,792 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,212,177 The following references are of record in the 2395312 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 10 4,651 399,663 Glass Mar. 19, 1889 403,609

Name Date Bragger May 12, 1896 Hove Jan. 26 1904 McAlear Nov. 20, 1907 Benjamin Jan, 16, 1917 Blanchard Feb. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Sept. 29, 1883 Great Britain Mar. 21 1932 

